Ute

The "Alesia" ran aground in the embankment of the Kiel Canal at kilometer 58 on Mar 13, 2016, around 3 a.m. The ship was transiting the canal westbound enroute from Kalmar to Lisboa when it suffered rudder failure and became unmanoeverable. The traffic control Brunsbüttel barred half of the canal width for ship traffic for security reasons, and ships were asked to pass the accident site in a curve between Schülp and Rendsburg with slow speed and caution. After attempts of the crew to get the ship off with own power failed, the tugs "Stein" and "Kitzeberg" were called from Kiel at 6 a.m. in order to refloat the ship. After they got her off, the "Alesia" was pulled into the communal port of Rendsburg where she was being berthed at 10.30 a.m. It resumed its voyage westbound on Mar 14 at 5.15 a.m. after investigations and repairs. German report with photo: http://www.shz.de/regionales/schleswig-holstein/frachter-alesia-faehrt-auf-nord-ostsee-kanal-in-boeschung-id12990761.html